nonchalant
English edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir (“to be unconcerned”), from non- (“not”) + chaloir (“to have concern for”), from Latin non (“not”) + calēre (“to be warm”).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
nonchalant (comparative more nonchalant, superlative most nonchalant)
- Casually calm and relaxed.
- We handled the whole frenetic situation with a nonchalant attitude.
- 1951 October, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in Railway Magazine, page 703:
- On the other hand, to arrive after dusk, when the multitude of garish little public-houses are lit up, giving glimpses of crowded jostling bars and taprooms, is an introduction to a fine city well calculated to affect even the most nonchalant.
- Indifferent; unconcerned; behaving as if detached.
- He is far too nonchalant about such a serious matter.
Synonyms edit
- (casually calm): carefree, cool, mellow, easygoing; see also Thesaurus:calm or Thesaurus:carefree
- (indifferent): blasé, unconcerned; see also Thesaurus:apathetic
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
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Danish edit
Etymology edit
From French nonchalant.
Adjective edit
nonchalant
Inflection edit
Inflection of nonchalant | |||
---|---|---|---|
Positive | Comparative | Superlative | |
Indefinte common singular | nonchalant | — | —2 |
Indefinite neuter singular | nonchalant | — | —2 |
Plural | nonchalante | — | —2 |
Definite attributive1 | nonchalante | — | — |
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used. 2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively. |
Adverb edit
nonchalant
Further reading edit
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French nonchalant.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
nonchalant (comparative nonchalanter, superlative nonchalantst)
- careless, showing no interest or effort
Inflection edit
Inflection of nonchalant | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
uninflected | nonchalant | |||
inflected | nonchalante | |||
comparative | nonchalanter | |||
positive | comparative | superlative | ||
predicative/adverbial | nonchalant | nonchalanter | het nonchalantst het nonchalantste | |
indefinite | m./f. sing. | nonchalante | nonchalantere | nonchalantste |
n. sing. | nonchalant | nonchalanter | nonchalantste | |
plural | nonchalante | nonchalantere | nonchalantste | |
definite | nonchalante | nonchalantere | nonchalantste | |
partitive | nonchalants | nonchalanters | — |
Related terms edit
French edit
Etymology edit
Present participle of Old French nonchaloir (“to have no importance”), from non + chaloir, equivalent to Latin non (“not”) + calēre (“to be warm”).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
nonchalant (feminine nonchalante, masculine plural nonchalants, feminine plural nonchalantes)
- Marked by a lack of vivacity, vigour, liveliness; slow-moving; indolent
- Cool, relaxed
Usage notes edit
- Although French nonchalant is usually appropriate where the English one is used, its meaning is different.
Related terms edit
Descendants edit
- → Danish: nonchalant
- → Dutch: nonchalant
- → English: nonchalant
- → German: nonchalant
- → Swedish: nonchalant
Further reading edit
- “nonchalant”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
German edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir, from Latin non (“not”) + calēre (“to be warm”).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
nonchalant (strong nominative masculine singular nonchalanter, comparative nonchalanter, superlative am nonchalantesten)
Declension edit
Further reading edit
- “nonchalant” in Duden online
- “nonchalant” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Norwegian Bokmål edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From French nonchalant.
Adjective edit
nonchalant (indefinite singular nonchalant, definite singular and plural nonchalante)
References edit
- “nonchalant” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From French nonchalant.
Adjective edit
nonchalant (indefinite singular nonchalant, definite singular and plural nonchalante)
References edit
- “nonchalant” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.